Background: The discharge program for cardiac surgery patients is a key element in the care of
patients. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of comprehensive discharge program on
patients' outcomes after open heart surgery. Design: Quasi-experimental research design. Setting:
This study was conducted in Cardiovascular Surgery Unit and Outpatient Clinic at Benha University
Hospital & Nasser Institute. Study subjects: 150 patients were scheduled for open heart surgery.
Data collection tools: It was involved three tools. I: Patients' assessment questionnaire to assess
patients' socio-demographic characteristics, medical history, patient knowledge regarding open heart
surgery and nursing discharge instructions. II: Patient' outcomes assessment to assess patients'
outcomes and consists two parts (patient' outcomes record & activity of daily living). III: The
perceived stress scale to evaluate how different situations affect patients' feelings and the thoughts.
Results: 13.3% of studied patients had satisfactory total knowledge regarding open heart surgery preprogram implementation whenever, improved to 88 % post program implementation and slightly
decreased to 85.3% Follow-up program implementation, concerning total stress level for patients,52.0
% of studied patients had a high total stress level pre-program implementation whenever, 55.3 % and
52% of them had a moderate and low total stress level post program and follow-up program
implementation respectively, concerning total out-comes for the patients, 14 % of studied patients
had satisfactory total out-comes pre-program implementation whenever, improved to 84.0 % post
program implementation and slightly decreased to 83.3 % follow up program implementation.
Conclusion: Implementation of the educational program has highly significant positive effect on total
knowledge, total stress scale and clinical outcomes for the patients undergoing open heart surgery,
which support the study hypothesis. Recommendations: The effective education and information are
required to enhance understanding of pre & post-operative care and equip the open-heart care unit
and at outpatient clinic with simple illustrated guidelines protocol or program covering the
comprehensive discharge instructions for open heart surgery patient's.